During the night of September 26 to 27, 2002, the capsizing of the ship Joola caused the death of nearly 2,000 people. Taking place during a phase of deregulation of Senegalese public transport, this disaster underlines how the inefficiency of public authorities in the organization of the transportation system can lead to such tragic consequences. This also raises the problem of the balance between public and private interests, and enables us to outline ideas and solutions that would provide a resolution to this impasse.